Hawkes Racing has pulled the right rein by scratching Palladian from the Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield in favour of a lesser race at Warwick Farm.
After Palladian drew barrier 12 of 13 he was withdrawn from Wednesday’s Group Three race in Melbourne and instead broke his maiden in Sydney’s south-west on the same day.
Palladian joined the long line of three-year-old winners produced by the stable this season, winning the TAB Maiden Plate over 1100m.
“In the Blue Sapphire he drew wide. To be fair had he probably drawn a barrier he would have gone and he would have been really competitive,” co-trainer Michael Hawkes said.
“You have got to place the horses where they can win.
“Going forward he is a really nice colt.”
Koby Jennings was unable to use his 2kg claim with Palladian getting the apprentice’s riding weight of 56kg.
He gave the $2.25 favourite a patient ride on the rails before coming off stablemate Missile Strike’s ($5.50) heels at the 200m to pull away and win by a long neck with the Peter Robl-trained Weston ($8.50) third.
The lack of weight relief was a taste of things to come for Jennings, who will ride his final meeting as an apprentice at Randwick on Saturday.
“It is a good way to come out of an apprenticeship,” Jennings said.
“This is my last week so hopefully I am doing all things right to keep kicking on when I become a senior.”
Meanwhile, Tye Angland rode a winning treble in consecutive races.
The Matthew Smith-trained Quantrill kicked off the sequence overcoming his 60kg to win the Schweppes Handicap (1200m).
“He is a bit of a tricky horse. He is a bit funny in the gates,” Angland said.
“He kicked probably a little bit stronger than I thought he would.”
Queensland sprinter Mr Wind missed the start and finished fifth after drifting to $2.40 but retaining favouritism.
Caton took out the 2200m staying contest, with the horse responding when Angland asked for a sustained run down the straight.
“I knew I had plenty of horse and it was just about keeping him balanced and not going too early,” Angland said.
Angland completed the treble with the John Thompson-trained Dreamforce to win the 1400m benchmark handicap.
Dreamforce held on from Liapari, who was an eye-catching second at his first start since being transferred to trainer Chris Waller from New Zealand.
Waller won the first race of the day with three-year-old filly In Times Of War who is now likely to head to a stakes race in Melbourne.
